Your Thoughts?

This past Friday evening, I did my weekly grocery shopping at WalMart. I know, I know...Friday evening at Wally World? I must be crazy. But I saw something there and wanted your opinion.

As I walked up and down the grocery aisles, I noticed a family - 4 children - two older teens, one girl that looked to be aorund 8 years old, and a boy who appeared to be about 12 or 13 years old. The group was being herded along by one of the mothers you just know rules the roost in her family, one of those "Don't you sass me, boy!" type of women. The children were following along behind her, not a one of them doing anything they shouldn't. But apparently one of them had done something he shouldn't.

The boy who looked to be 12 or 13 years old was wearing a sign, an 8 1/2 by 11 piece of paper that had the message "I like to steal" written in bold marker. It was pinned to his shirt just below his chin. His eyes were cast downward, and he moved with leaden feet.

So what do you think? Apparently this child had tried shoplifting and had been caught. His mother felt wearing the sign through the store was appropriate punishment. What do you think? Would you do this to one of your children caught shoplifting? Do you think the punishment fit the crime? Do you think wearing the sign would make the child think twice the next time he might have the urge to help himself to something that was not his?

Just wondering....